ST. LOUIS - Northern Iowa sophomore Sammey Bunch was named to the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason All-Conference Team, the league announced last week.
Bunch (Fatima High School) was selected as the shortstop for the all-conference preseason team, which consists of 13 players from 10 schools. Bunch is one of four sophomores to receive selection.
Last season, Bunch was named MVC Freshman of the Year, leading the Panthers last season with a .325 batting average (49-for-151) with team-highs of 12 doubles and four triples. She added seven home runs, 32 RBI and a team-best 41 runs scored and 12 stolen bases.
Northern Iowa was picked to finish third in the MVC, garnering three first-place votes and 86 points. Illinois State was picked to win the conference with 88 points, followed by Southern Illinois with 87.
Northern Iowa opens the season Friday, hosting the UNI-Dome Classic